56 comments:

222. Leftists, especially those of the oversocialized type, are True Believers in the sense of Eric Hoffer’s book, “The True Believer.” But not all True Believers are of the same psychological type as leftists. Presumably a true-believing nazi, for instance, is very different psychologically from a true-believing leftist. Because of their capacity for single-minded devotion to a cause, True Believers are a useful, perhaps a necessary, ingredient of any revolutionary movement. This presents a problem with which we must admit we don’t know how to deal. We aren’t sure how to harness the energies of the True Believer to a revolution against technology. At present all we can say is that no True Believer will make a safe recruit to the revolution unless his commitment is exclusively to the destruction of technology. If he is committed also to another ideal, he may want to use technology as a tool for pursuing that other ideal (see paragraphs 220, 221).

I get so irked when some fool on a elecrtic assist bike blows past me. I think what is so off putting is the rate at which they pedal seems disproportionate to the speed they are travelling, or the grade that they are ascending. I find mollification with the thought that their drivetrains and brakes might wear out in an accelerated manner.

It's not the electric bikes that freak me out, it's the electric skateboards. They make a weirder noise and the person seems to stand perfectly still. My brain can't process being passed by a mannequin who is moving at high speed.

I once had a couple of roadies accuse me of having an electric motor. I guess they couldn't figure out how I was moving so fast on my non-crabon commuter monstrosity. Large person + heavy bike + downhill + gravity = fast.

If I had a nickel for each time someone I know, I'm not saying who, attempted to excuse excrement, doggie dejecta, and canine carpet bombing with "Sh*t Happens," I wouldn't have to demand a refund for today's non-post.

The Psychlo X from legendary titanium framebuilders Moots is a extremely talented bike, with bags of speed complemented by comfort and assured handling. It's adept at cyclo-cross racing but is really capable of rides of far bigger scope and imagination than an hour around a muddy field, the mainstay of 'cross races in the UK. It's a popular bike with the growing gravel race and adventure set in the US, and if you want a bike of such capability, the Psychlo X will fulfill your wishes.

Adjusted to describe my bike:

The cobbled together "Franken-Bike" from un-remarkable bike rider Frickus is an extremely talented bike, with bags for groceries complemented by comfort and slow handling. It's adept at cross town jaunts but is also sorta capable of rides of far greater scope and imagination than a trip to the grocery store or the library, the mainstays of middle aged cyclists in the US. It's a popular bike with the aging non-racer set in the US, and if you want a bike of such capability, you can build one to fulfill your wishes.

If your work on the new project is as good as your work on this blog it'll be...A GREAT PROJECT!!

Thanks for all the free giggles. One of the reasons your blog is so interesting is that you HAVE A LIFE and have to do other things occasionally, etc and write about that, too, in addition to the bike crap.

I'm willing to bet that the project you are working on is 'projecting' who is going yo win the big Milan-San Remo cycling race this weekend; your new favorite spring classic.

Most people are putting their money on Sagan, but I am betting that the big horse Fabian Cancellara will be the fantastic surprise and break away for a victory. Tom Boonen will bust on the Poggio, and an American could surprise the Europeans with a podoi finale. Look forward to watching it live with you and your children Bike Snob. The classics have arrivio!!!Ciao Italian!!Cippollini still the best sprint!Pantani loves panini!Ciclismino!

The new ones made by Luna are pretty reliable and super fast. Imagine how it feels to pass a lightweight road biker in Lycra that easy! Or even a full gruopetto...exciting! On a 26" wheel mtb no less! In baggy shorts without an expensive chamois or European made chamois cream! Its like being on a motorcycle but you feel like you are pedalling it and fully powering it with your self-esteem, ego, & confidence! And you are saving the environment just like the pure pedallers also! Law enforcement is not cracking down on those who choose to run extra wattage, except in highly regulated NYC.

Man that BMW makes me wish I still had my 1970 Ford Pickup with the push bumper; wrap that left front quarter panel around my bumper and take it with me without ever slowing down! You do know the difference between a porcupine and a BMW? With a BMW the pricks are on the inside.

Holy Roller, you know that "What Would Jesus Drive" is (was?) a thing, right? I believe the conclusion was "not an SUV." I'm betting Snob spent the day mounting a narrow slick front and wide narrow rear... ...um, what was I talking about, again?

RUMP: Well, let me tell you about Twitter. I think that maybe I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Twitter, because I get such a fake press, such a dishonest press. … I think Fox has been fair to me, but if you look at CNN and if you look at these other networks, NBC — I made a fortune for NBC with The Apprentice. I had a top show where they were doing horribly, and I had one of the most successful reality shows of all time. I made — and I was on 14 seasons. And you see what happened when I was not on. You saw what happened to the show was a disaster. I was on — I was very good to NBC. And I — they are despicable…

So, the news is not honest. Much of the news. It's not honest. And when I have close to 100 million people watching me on Twitter, including Facebook, including all of the Instagram, including POTUS, including lots of things — but we have — I guess pretty close to 100 million people. I have my own form of media. So if I tweet two or three or four or five times a day, and if most of them are good — and I really want them all to be good — but if I make one mistake in a month — this one, I don't think is going to prove to be a mistake at all.

WASHINGTON—Saying the extra income would be a major boon both for individual citizens and the country at large, a study released Monday by the Congressional Budget Office confirmed that a mass extinction of the world’s flora and fauna could free up billions of dollars in conservation funding over the next decade. “According to our projections, if the ongoing global extinction of the world’s 8.7 million species continues at current rates, the U.S. stands to pocket some serious cash, likely enough to cover most infrastructure projects we’ve been putting off,” CBO deputy director Robert Sunshine said, adding that the elimination of entire ecosystems, such as rainforests, would usher in the elimination of Medicare and Social Security funding shortfalls as well. “Even if we just lost panthers, we’d be almost $1 billion ahead. Take them and almost every other living creature out of the picture, and we could build a nationwide high-speed rail line and have some left over for a number of really amazing, top-of-the-line weapons systems.” Sunshine went on to confirm that the government has blueprints for fixing the nation’s education system “ready to go” the second humpback whales disappear.

Sponsored Linkway:

About Me

While I love cycling and embrace it in all its forms, I'm also extremely critical. So I present to you my venting for your amusement and betterment. No offense meant to the critiqued. Always keep riding!